Chapter 98 "The House-Viewing Man" "Kind Father, I have fallen in love with a..."
The resentment surrounding the Carrie Building dissipated considerably.
Just like in the script, Jian Dieda was soon notified of his dismissal by HR. However, on the day he left the building with a cardboard box, the bad guy's retribution still came. Mong Kok Police Station also received an anonymous letter from an unknown source, and the Hong Kong police began to formally investigate the deal between Master Qiao and Inspector Liu.
His boss, Paul, even ran into him on the street.
When Jane Deda stepped into the elevator, she instinctively tried to press the 15th floor button. The elevator descended to the top floor right in front of her. Paul was being followed by a team of police officers. The moment he saw Jane Deda, his expression immediately turned ferocious.
Just like his many previous abusive phone calls, Paul was irritable and impatient with him.
"Jian Xiang!! Where the hell have you been?! Was this all your doing?! You just wait, once I'm out on bail, I'll have someone kill you!! You won't even be able to work in an office anymore, I'll make you work as a male prostitute in a nightclub!"
Jane frowned, hung up the phone to ask her senior sister out for tea, and looked at the scumbag boss: "Brother Paul, I've already been fired from the company. You and I have no employment relationship. I can sue you for saying these things."
The police officers nearby also felt it was their duty to uphold justice. Just then, the elevator stopped, and they were about to drag Paul away when a bespectacled young man who looked easy to bully deliberately walked over. He pressed himself against Paul's body in an ambiguous way and slapped his former boss's butt: "I heard prison life is boring, and there are a lot of gay guys. Financial crime suspects are the easiest to seduce. Paul, be careful, I think you should open a male prostitute in there."
Jane Dieda's eyes were icy cold.
After saying this, he licked his lower lip with his bright red tongue, turned around, and walked away like a damn bitch.
Paul was trembling with anger, but there was nothing he could do. He could only sit in the police car and watch the bastard drive away.
Even though Jane lost her job, she walked with the gait of a victorious warrior.
He had never been so emotional before, but he had to admit that today felt really great.
Just as the wind brushed past his ears, Jane Dieda, waiting at the traffic light, suddenly heard a soft laugh, seemingly both near and far, overlapping with the voice from his dream.
"Like a fool."
He turned around abruptly, only to see a constant flow of traffic behind him. But then, a figure that many had described as an angelic being appeared, holding his umbrella, appeared.
They met on the side of the road. Zhong Jiyao seemed to have brought Ding Xirong's urn. As if he had seen some funny scene, the cheerful guy showed a teasing smile. Then, Jian Dieda saw his wink teasing.
"Congratulations on your unemployment, Manager Jian. You don't need to look for houses anymore. Do you have time to accompany me to church for worship?"
...
So, having a rare moment of free time, Jian Dieda, with his community unemployment benefits, began to wait for the case to develop before Zhong Jiyao took him to a nearby community park for some fresh air and to do charity work at a church.
At that time, the afternoon sun was shining brightly, casting dappled light and shadow through the branches and leaves of the old banyan tree. A group of old neighbors gathered under the shade of the tree, and several housewives dressed in plain-colored opera costumes were singing Cantonese opera with microphones in hand. The tune was melodious and graceful, and it was the classic "Princess Changping".
"Two strange trees lean against the palace, their shadows dark and eerie, ten thousand bright pearls reflecting the yellow flowers..."
The first woman, a middle-aged woman, had a clear voice and, although her movements weren't professional, she exuded a seriousness. The neighbors around her clapped and cheered, and some even sang along quietly to the tune.
Jane found a stone bench and sat down, her fingertips unconsciously rubbing the cross in her pocket.
A few days ago, Jian Dieda went to see Granny Zhu alone to ask about the precautions for breaking the formation.
Granny Zhu was burning incense in front of the altar when she sighed, "Why did we have to get involved in this mess?"
Jane Dieda handed over an incense stick: "I know everyone has their own thoughts, but I also believe in karma and retribution. Is there any way to help me deal with the vengeful spirits in the building who haven't yet gone missing?"
Granny Zhu took out a yellowed scripture from under the altar, paused, and then said, "You and Zhong Jiyao are both of the Four Yin natures. Your blood can break evil spells, but it will also attract resentment. You must be careful. Also, I heard that Zhong Jiyao's silver cross came from the church orphanage behind the conglomerate. That place is not an ordinary church. You have to think about it. Are so many children really being helped by rich people for nothing? No, many people who do good deeds are either seeking peace of mind or feeling guilty. So Zhong Jiyao's death is itself part of the feng shui treasure land of the Jiali Building."
As Jane was lost in thought about the secrets of the "church," a warm and gentle singing voice came from beside her, perfectly matching the tunes of the housewives. It had a unique, deep and melodious quality that was even more moving than the sound on the record.
Jian Dieda turned his head and saw Zhong Jiyao standing under the shade of a tree, holding an umbrella, his eyes lowered, and the corners of his lips slightly raised, singing the second half of the tune: "Golden branches and jade leaves are guilty of the same crime, fallen flowers suffer calamity and endure wind and frost, the flower stamens wither and perish..."
He didn't deliberately start the song, yet he commanded the atmosphere. His past stage skills were undeniable, and his gestures carried a touch of his former elegance. The housewives around him fell silent, staring at him in a daze, even forgetting to hold up their microphones.
When Chung Chi-Yao sang, "I am willing to die for my bride and be buried with her, to accompany her on her journey to the underworld," he suddenly looked up at Chien Die-Ta.
Their eyes met.
Sunlight fell on Zhong Jiyao's long eyelashes, casting a shadow of a faint smile. His eyes held indescribable emotions: nostalgia, tenderness, and a hint of barely perceptible probing.
Jane Dieda's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly looked away, but his ears were burning. He suddenly remembered the unsigned cassette tape, the song playing on repeat on the 15th floor, and the whispers that had been pressed against his ear in the dead of night.
He had never heard an elderly person humming Cantonese opera before, and he had no feeling for the tune. But now, listening to the familiar singing, he vaguely recalled a certain afternoon before he traveled through time. It was a warm day like this, and Zhong Yu was playing the violin for him by the window. He was doing his physics homework by the windowsill. Many years have passed in the blink of an eye.
It turns out that no matter what kind of music it is, if the most important part is right, it can easily move his emotions.
At that time, the two boys were truly in harmony with each other's feelings.
Jian Dieda thought a lot before finishing his song.
The neighbors applauded enthusiastically, and a housewife laughed and teased, "Young man, you sing so well! Did you sing opera before?"
Zhong Jiyao shielded his face with his umbrella, waved with a smile, and spoke in a humble tone.
"I sang a few lines before, but I made a fool of myself."
After bowing, he turned back to find Jane Dieda.
Seeing the other person staring at the ground in a daze, Zhong smiled but didn't point it out. He simply handed over a bottle of chilled mineral water.
"Thirsty? I just bought this."
Jane took the water, her fingertips touching his fingers, feeling the cool touch, and then she quickly withdrew her hand.
Jane said in a low voice, "You sang very well, better than on that cassette tape."
Zhong Jiyao raised an eyebrow and sat down next to him: "You're not just kidding, are you?"
Jane Dieda nodded, then shook her head, and mumbled, "It's true."
He didn't say that he had listened to that tape many times back then, and Zhong Jiyao didn't say that he felt warm inside after receiving praise from this fan.
Zhong Jiyao simply felt that it would be wonderful if time could stand still at this moment forever.
The sun slowly sets in the west.
The two continued walking slowly along the community path. The sunlight gradually slanted, and as they passed the Catholic church on the street corner, its striking spire gleamed warmly in the setting sun.
As a child, Chung Tin-wang had to live in a church because of his tragic background, but he only went into the confessional once.
He remembered that it was very quiet inside. The priests and nuns spent most of their time outside receiving the tycoons. The adopted children like him would be dressed up like angels on that day and sing praises to the Father's love in the chapel.
Zhong Jiyao suddenly stopped and looked at the church entrance: "Would you like to come in and sit for a while? It's very quiet inside."
Jian Dieda did not refuse and followed him inside.
The church was indeed quiet, with only a few middle-aged and elderly believers sitting on the benches praying.
Sunlight streamed through the stained glass windows, casting dappled patterns of light and shadow onto the polished floor tiles.
The two found a bench in the back row and sat down. Neither of them spoke, and all that could be heard was the low, sobbing sound of prayer from ahead.
"May God bless my mother so that she is doing well in heaven..."
"—Heavenly Father, my daddy is sick, please bless him so he can get better..."
Everyone has parents. As Zhong Jiyao watched ordinary people praying, a strange impulse welled up in his heart.
God, if today were the end of the world, what could he ask for in this sacred church?
After sitting for a while, Zhong Jiyao stood up, removed his hand from his chin, bent down and whispered to Jian Dieda, "Wait for me here, I'm going to the confessional."
Jane nodded, watching his barely visible figure walk towards the confessional in the corner, push the door open, and close it.
Somehow, being separated from each other made them more willing to speak their minds.
Jane Diedda had no idea what would happen next.
Of course, he wasn't curious enough to eavesdrop; he just became too stupid around one person and didn't realize that the confessional wasn't well soundproofed. This person always seemed to understand him too well.
After a while, Zhong Jiyao's voice indeed came through the door, intermittently. His voice was hoarse with a hint of restraint, very soft, but every word was clear.
"Father, I have sinned."
"I've been stuck in the same place for over twenty years, clinging to a deep-seated belief. I knew it was against the rules, but I still couldn't resist it."
"I have a crush on someone. He is pure and innocent, like the warm sun, like salvation, the only light in my dark years."
“I admire his appearance as a believer follows God. I regard him as light, which surpasses my unwavering loyalty to doctrine.”
“I think I have betrayed the light and become Satan, all because I fell in love with a man.”
...
Jane's heart clenched suddenly.
A cluster of golden light shone down from the bright church, and the person kneeling in the confessional had excessively long hair. As the light reflected back into his shocked eyes, a pair of huge white wings seemed to have grown out of Zhong Jiyao's back.
The man was so holy and compassionate at that moment.
Jane Dieda subconsciously held her breath, her fingertips clenching the mineral water bottle tightly, the coolness of the bottle seeping into her palm.
His archangel continued to pray.
“I know that humans and ghosts are different, and that this feeling should not exist. I am afraid of disturbing him, afraid of burdening him, afraid that my existence will bring him disaster, but I can’t control myself. I want to get close to him, want to be with him, and want to give him all the good things.”
“I often think that this unrequited love is my sin, the punishment for transgressing the rules. But he did nothing wrong. He is so good, he deserves all the peace and happiness in the world, and he shouldn’t be held back by my lonely soul.”
“Merciful Father, is it a sin to secretly love a man? If it is a sin, I will bear it alone. I only wish that he may be safe and carefree every year. Even if... he will never know my feelings, I am willing to place this love with you and return him to the purity of nature.”
After the last sentence, the confessional room fell silent, with only Zhong Jiyao's calm, emotionless breathing remaining.
He has clearly revealed the biggest secret.
But he didn't seem to regret it. Instead, he continued to use all his strength to lay his entire heart bare and show it to the other person outside the confessional.
"BB, I miss you so much. When you're tired, you can lean on my shoulder. Let's set the date for a hundred years, okay?"
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